Pilgrimage Aotearoa by Jenny Boyack and John Hornblow

Pilgrimage Aotearoa / Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa is your essential companion for discovering the spiritual, historical and cultural treasures of Aotearoa New Zealand. Written by Jenny Boyack and John Hornblow, this guidebook takes readers on an inspiring journey through 100 sites across the country, each with its own story of significance. Each site is brought to life with vivid descriptions and historical context, illuminating the deep roots of spirituality and heritage that make Aotearoa unique.

Pilgrimage has always been a feature of human life on this planet and today it is the third most popular reason for travel. Although many Kiwis visit famous overseas pilgrimage sites, it is only fairly recently that they have seen the potential of these islands for transformative pilgrimage experiences. The impetus for this guidebook, a 12-year work of love, was the realisation that no equivalent resource existed for those wanting to explore local pilgrimage sites.

Selecting sites for inclusion in the book was challenging. Some were obvious, others recommended, and some discovered quite by accident. The guidebook does not claim to include all the sites in Aotearoa that have potential to inspire, challenge, disturb, inform or transform pilgrims. It is a selection only and one of its goals is to encourage readers to look with wider vision at sites in their own locations and neighbourhoods.